I'm starting a blanket thread, rather than doing individual posts like I have been the last few days, because this might get some people's attention better.
The word "Nurse" is a legally protected title in most states (as well as "LVN/LPN", and "RN"). The law was written to prevent people who are NOT nurses from using those titles.
Beyond that, if you are posting ON THIS WEBSITE, AllNurses.com has a clear Terms of Service posted that you agreed to when registering for a username. To put it simply, you may not use the word "Nurse" or "RN" or "LPN" unless you hold an active LICENSE for one of those titles.
Usernames such as Nurse2Be, or FutureRN, or HopeToBeLVN are obviously not in violation of the TOS, as it is clear that the member is not misrepresenting himself or herself as a current nurse.
If you are someone who has mistakenly registered an incorrect username, please take the time to CHANGE IT. There are many members here who will be angry with seeing your fraudulent use of the title; some will be nice about it and ask you politely to change it (as I am doing) and some will be far less pleasant....and both will be right.
CNAs, MAs, who are using the word Nurse in your name....please stop. Students, post-students who have yet to pass the NCLEX, please do not use a title you have not earned.
You wouldn't call yourself Doctor Sally (I don't think?) if you aren't a doctor. Please give Nurses the same consideration.
Minus my sarcastic remark at the end, this entire thread is a moot point, and let me explain why. Ruby Vee, I often look to your posts because I know that you are a nurse, but that concept might be mistaken by the fact, and this is important, the site isn't regulated. Granted, those using the title of nurse when they are not should not be, no one is arguing that. My point is this is a forum website, on the internet, where there really is no regulation. You are a nurse, I assume, and I look forward to your posts. But the issue this thread has addressed is that anyone can come on here and put in anything for their nursing experience and make it sound true. If anything, this thread has brought up issues of reliability about the website.
Don't get me wrong, I use, enjoy, and love this website. I have never represented myself as a nurse, when I am in fact a student. However, what this thread does bring up is that some of those here may or may not be nurses. How are we to tell? How can you tell?
You may or may not like my post, but the questions I pose do have validity. For anyone who has posted in my threads where I have questions and they have answered them, I am very grateful, as that is what this site offers to students as well as an idea of how different specialties may be in a real world setting. Yet, again, there is no way to know if someone is a nurse or not. This is a fundamental flaw, and not one I'm blaming anyone for. It just is.
Actually, I'm tougher in real life. I rarely throw grenades online.
I don't doubt that for a second. Others, particularly the nurse2b person, I question. But I have seen your threads/posts, I can almost guarantee that you are the real deal, and someone I wouldn't want to mess with.
My apologies. I tried to see if there was a way to change my username, and I couldn't do it. I guess I didn't realize that the internet was regulated like the work environment, where a license is required. I'll be happy to know that if anyone has the name "nurse" after their name, I should take their posts at absolute value, whereas anyone who doesn't, they don't matter. I assume this also applies to the "years of experience" as well.
Thanks again for that clarification.
I don't think anyone ever said that someone without "nurse" after their name doesn't matter. I guess you have to have perspective or experience to understand it. It would be like if I ran around saying I was a Captain in the JAG Corps because I sent in a postcard asking for information when I was in law school. The people who put themselves through the wringer to be in the JAG Corps would be a little torqued about it.
I'm sure both posters felt bullied and it caused them to react the way they did but really that is not a good enough excuse. .
And I'm sure they did not, as each of their first posts on this thread were angry and insulting. No one said one insulting or "bullying" word in any way to either of them to provoke their nasty and immature comments. They came on antagonistic and offensive, and then wondered why people didn't sprinkle them with kindness.
I am a professional, and am paid to be one in the appropriate setting. I am not unprofessional because I won't lay down and die when a rude, ignorant person insults me and makes derogatory comments to try and taunt me.
In my free time I am entitled to converse with like-minded people and engage in pleasant conversation---including lively debate. I assure you I am "acting like an adult" in every moment of my life, as I AM an adult.....and I have no need to prove this to anyone, or "act" a certain way when I'm enjoying MY OWN TIME on a message board. A thought, though: I strongly suspect some of the more difficult people who wander in and out of this site are not adults, probably emotionally immature teens, actually, but what can you do?
I feel no need to curb my disdain for people who insist on presenting themselves as rude and ignorant. I DO find them disdainful. I offer no apologies, or accept that I am somehow "unprofessional" because I dismiss them as nothing but angry people looking to be contrary for their own purposes.
I have not been rude, I have not used offensive language or suggestions of the same, I have not used text-speak and grammar and spelling that make my posts nearly unintelligible...*I* have nothing to be embarrassed about on this thread, period.....and frankly, I DO resent the idea that those who find such posters to be laughable are also unprofessional. They are anything but.
**And after typing all this, Gabby, I apologize that it might look like this is aimed at you, and it isn't!! I only quoted your one line, and then responded, because I really don't accept that these individuals felt bullied in the least....if anything, THEY came on as full-fledged bullies themselves.
The rest was just my response to those who keep saying to 'act like adults' and 'be professional' as though standing up for oneself is mutually exclusive of the other two situations.
My grandpa tells everyone I am a nurse.I'm always reminding him I am a Nurse Assistant! Bless his heart he doesn't really know the difference.
And your grandpa is just proud as punch of his little grandgirl, and that's JUST fine :) Very different than the scenario that caused me to create this thread!
I do appreciate your posting, but I think you might be overreacting. I made the mistake of using it, but I created my user name when I was accepted to the Nursing School. I was looking at myself as a Nurse. Like positive thinking kind of thing. It didn't work for me...the school...neither the user name here... I changed it as soon as I was advised by one of the users in this website. I believe your post came up a little stronger than what it should have been. Regards Nurse.
missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN
869 Posts
Minus my sarcastic remark at the end, this entire thread is a moot point, and let me explain why. Ruby Vee, I often look to your posts because I know that you are a nurse, but that concept might be mistaken by the fact, and this is important, the site isn't regulated. Granted, those using the title of nurse when they are not should not be, no one is arguing that. My point is this is a forum website, on the internet, where there really is no regulation. You are a nurse, I assume, and I look forward to your posts. But the issue this thread has addressed is that anyone can come on here and put in anything for their nursing experience and make it sound true. If anything, this thread has brought up issues of reliability about the website.
Don't get me wrong, I use, enjoy, and love this website. I have never represented myself as a nurse, when I am in fact a student. However, what this thread does bring up is that some of those here may or may not be nurses. How are we to tell? How can you tell?
You may or may not like my post, but the questions I pose do have validity. For anyone who has posted in my threads where I have questions and they have answered them, I am very grateful, as that is what this site offers to students as well as an idea of how different specialties may be in a real world setting. Yet, again, there is no way to know if someone is a nurse or not. This is a fundamental flaw, and not one I'm blaming anyone for. It just is.